SUNY Geneseo’s Workout Center installs new equipment

Photo courtesy of Kendall Cruise

The new dumbbells in the workout center featured on the rack, which should allow students to easily find the weight they are looking for.

SUNY Geneseo’s Workout Center recently announced that it will be closed on Nov. 6 from 12:00 pm through 4:30 pm to deliver and install new workout equipment.

Over the three years I have been utilizing the workout center, there have been some renovations, such as rearranging, adding, and fixing equipment. The most noticeable new piece of equipment is the dumbbell weights. Anytime I have been to the gym, finding and choosing the dumbbells has been challenging due to the numbers slowly being worn off and the need for more organization. The new weights have bright white lettering indicating the weight, making it much easier to choose and organize the weights.

Previously, the old weights seemed slightly dangerous as the weight on one side sometimes felt loose and could fall off. This could be hazardous if someone is doing an exercise such as squats and they were to hold the dumbbell from one side or in another way, which could lead to the weight falling on their body or on that of another gym attendant.

I went to the gym recently, and although the new dumbbells are different, it took a lot of work to notice anything else. Some machines, like the treadmills, are still out of order, while others seem worn down. What I have noticed, however, is that the leg press machine chair located near the wooden stand where people can put their belongings has been replaced with a new chair. Yet, the leg extension machine chair still shows signs of wear to the point where there are visible cracks in the cushion due to the wear of people’s usage over the years.

At the beginning of the semester, I noticed some new attachments for cable machines. Before the new attachments, some of the clips were very worn down and brittle. Yet, there are many new tricep ropes for an easier workout and a few more lat pulldown bars so people can focus on different muscle groups during their workouts.

Even though there have been a few minor advancements in the workout center, I feel there could be more to help individuals have a better, more focused workout. Although the gym is a restricted area where it could be challenging to add more equipment, it sometimes feels like there needs to be more machines when the center is busy, making working out difficult. Since off-campus students have to pay for their membership, which is $110 for the entire year, there should be renovations and working machines for individuals to use every time they go.

Furthermore, there are only two free space spots: next to the treadmill and near the exit, where individuals can exercise without feeling they are in the way of others. Unless people go in front of some machines or the corners of the gym, there is only a little room to use the dumbbells freely. If there were more room for people to use the weights they want freely, they would have a better workout and be less focused on people watching them or being in the way. Some machines could be removed due to a lack of usage, so people could have more room to do what they want.

In the future, there is hope for more renovations, whether adding or removing some equipment to make the space more effective and ideal for those who want and pay to use that space.